Today Pastor Ricky will be exhorting us to guard our hearts with all diligence. Now, clearly, this command within Proverbs isn't talking about guarding our literal, physical hearts. This is talking about guarding the seat of our emotions and thoughts. The Apostle Paul challenged the church to take every thought captive that is contrary to Christ. Some of the ways we guard our hearts is by obeying the commands of Jesus and not allowing ourselves to be deceived by false teachings.
Wisdom for Life - Wounded, But Willing Fathers, Part 2
As Pastor Ricky continues his teaching series through the Book of Proverbs, he'll be challenging fathers to properly reflect the image of God the Father. It's a great privilege to be a father but so often many fathers have low standards of what being a good father looks like. The standard is properly reflecting God, the Father, to their children. Satan is busy at work trying to humiliate the position of the father of the home. If the enemy can bring down the father, he can begin to bring down the rest of the household.
Wisdom for Life - Wounded, But Willing Fathers, Part 1
There are so many avenues that a child could receive information and perspectives on life. The most important place a child should be taught about life is their Godly counsel from their parents. Today Pastor Ricky will be explaining how important it is for fathers to step up and impart Godly wisdom to their children. If fathers aren't raising their children up in the ways of the Lord the world will teach them the ways of evil and in this evil age, fathers need to be even more diligent than ever before.
Wisdom for Life - God's Path, The Path to Peace, Part 2
Jesus is called the Prince of Peace and for good reason. Jesus is the only person who can bring peace and joy into our lives. Today Pastor Ricky will be reminding us of all those things we tried filling up our souls with in order to obtain a sense of peace and rest and how Jesus satisfied our longing by His presence. The Holy Spirit brings love, joy, and peace to the children of God. As we abide in Jesus, The Vine, we will bear the fruit of the Spirit.
Wisdom for Life - God's Path, The Path to Peace, Part 1
The biggest lie that Satan tells us is that it's easier to give in to the world system and that satisfaction and peace can be achieved apart from God. As Pastor Ricky continues his teaching series through the Book of Proverbs, we’ll learn how peace can only be obtained by receiving salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus. The only way we can have peace with God is if we receive the grace of God by faith. Sin is a temporary fix. It doesn't provide peace. Living for the Lord and obeying his commandments brings true peace.
Wisdom for Life - Wisdom is Calling, Part 2
Imagine you're in the mall and a voice comes over the loudspeaker warning everyone to evacuate immediately because of a fire in the building. If you truly hear what the voice is saying, you will make your way to the closest exit. And if you don't, if you don't believe what's being said, you'll keep shopping. Wisdom is much the same way. She's calling out to us all the time. The question Pastor Ricky will ask is this, are you listening?
Wisdom for Life - Wisdom is Calling, Part 1
A quick perusal at your local bookstore will reveal a large market for obtaining wisdom. Gurus and the like, make claims about secret sources of wisdom that can only be unveiled by them. Today Pastor Ricky will demystify the source of wisdom. Friends, it isn't complicated. Wisdom is found in the word of God and the author of the word of God is God Himself. While God certainly can use wise people around us to impart wisdom, getting it from the source is truly the best option.
Wisdom for Life - Radical Womanhood, Part 2
Today Pastor Ricky will be challenging Christian women to be God-fearing so that they can be praiseworthy. The Book of Proverbs has many pearls of wisdom for parents, children, husbands, and wives. The reason God has a lot to say about the family structure and the individual roles of men and women play is because He loves family. The enemy will try to break down the family structure by tempting men and women to focus on the temporal instead of eternal qualities like godliness and selflessness.
Wisdom for Life - Radical Womanhood, Part 1
Today Pastor Ricky will be challenging Christian women to be God-fearing so that they can be praiseworthy. The Book of Proverbs has many pearls of wisdom for parents, children, husbands, and wives. The reason God has a lot to say about the family structure and the individual roles of men and women play is because He loves family. The enemy will try to break down the family structure by tempting men and women to focus on the temporal instead of eternal qualities like godliness and selflessness.
Wisdom for Life - The Beginning of Wisdom, Part 2
Do you desire wisdom? Today Pastor Ricky will be explaining that in order to become wise we need to have the fear of the Lord. The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Having fear of the Lord is having an honor of God and a reverential awe of who He is and how He's sovereign. Having a healthy fear of God is understanding that all life is being held together by His hand and that He is almighty. We need to have respect for God the Father. And He’ll bestow His wisdom upon us.
Wisdom for Life - The Beginning of Wisdom, Part 1
As Pastor Ricky begins his new teaching series through the Book of Proverbs, he'll be encouraging us to obey the wisdom of God that was penned through Solomon. Solomon was known to be the most wise man that has ever lived. Solomon asked God for one thing and he asked for wisdom. One of the things that is greatly lacking in today's culture is Godly wisdom. The best way to be wise is by reading the word of God and applying it to our everyday lives.
Live Forever - Forever is Soon, Part 2
The brokenness of this world is becoming more and more obvious. Sin is increasing all around us. We can see the effects of it daily. Pastor Ricky will encourage each of us to wake up and realize that this world is not worth living for. We must live for an eternal higher prize, eternity with Jesus.
Live Forever - Forever is Soon, Part 1
Right now, though it's hard to completely understand, each of us will live forever. Of course not in our current state but everyone will live eternally. The question is where will you spend eternity? Today we’ll learn that the answer to this question lies in another. Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
Live Forever - Wake Up Now, Part 3
The amazing truth that we’ll discover with Pastor Ricky today is that God isn't concerned with quantity. He's concerned with quality. It’s not about how much you give, it’s about why you give. What has He entrusted you with and are you using it for His glory and the furtherance of His kingdom?
Live Forever - Wake Up Now, Part 2
Stop and ask yourself, what have I been entrusted with? What gifts has God given me? When you have those answers, the next obvious question is, how can I use what is God’s, that He's entrusted to me, to further His kingdom? Living with this question constantly at the forefront of your mind brings blessing.
Live Forever - Wake Up Now, Part 1
Have you ever really stopped and asked yourself that question? The answer is fairly simple. Nothing you have in your life, including your very life itself, is of your own doing. Everything that you have, all that you are, is because of the grace, and mercy, and goodness of the creator of the universe.
The Happiest Book in the Bible - Generous God, Generous Givers, Part 2
Are you struggling to make ends meet? Do you have a desperate need that you're unable to provide for your family? In today's message, Pastor Ricky reminds us that God is able to meet our needs and deeply cares about our circumstances. Abba Father did not spare His only Son in order to provide salvation for mankind. Since Jesus freely gave His very life for us, how much more will He give to us when we have a true need? Therefore we should pray for our daily provision and have faith that God will provide.
The Happiest Book in the Bible - Generous God, Generous Givers, Part 1
The Philippians church though poor were known for their amazing sacrificial generosity. It's through the gifts of this special church that the Apostle Paul was able to do his ministry work. In today's message, Pastor Ricky teaches us that when we give to God we're actually partnering with Jesus in the advancement of the gospel. Pastor Ricky also points out that when we give using our temporary means, we rack up for ourselves exciting eternal rewards where rust and moth can’t touch our prize.
The Happiest Book in the Bible - The Secret of Contentment, Part 2
Have you ever been around an ungrateful person? It's not fun to hang out with them because well, their attitude reeks. In today's message, Pastor Ricky encourages us to be content with our station in life. God wants us to have joyful, grateful hearts that reflect Him. The way to be content is to find our strength and purpose in Jesus Christ. When the Lord is at the center of our lives, we can be content in all circumstances for we know that He is our provider and that He deeply cares about us.
The Happiest Book in the Bible - The Secret of Contentment, Part 1
We live in a time and place of great blessing. Americans enjoy unprecedented prosperity. We have cell phones, food of all kinds from all over the world, machines to wash our clothes, cars to get us to and from wherever we want to go, and houses to keep us safe, dry, and warm. Despite these many blessings, discontentment can ruin our peace. In today's message, Pastor Ricky teaches us that the secret to contentment is gratefulness. We must remain thankful for all the Lord provides in order to avoid selfish grumbling.